More than 1m visitors to whiskey distilleries in Ireland

Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla sample some whiskey on a visit to Titanic Distillery in Belfast ahead of the Fleadh Cheoil in May. More than 1m visitors visited whiskey distilleries in Ireland between June 2025 and June 2026. Picture: Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.

More than 1m visitors visited whiskey distilleries in Ireland this year, with numbers up more than 30,000, new data from the Irish Whiskey Association published on Monday shows.

In the period June 2025 to June 2026, Irish whiskey distilleries welcomed 1,040,159 visitors, according to the Irish Whiskey Way survey. Average spend across Irish Whiskey Association member distilleries rose to approximately €50 per person, up from approximately €42 per person in 2025, as more visitors choose premium distillery experiences.

“Reaching 1m visitors for the second year in a row shows that Irish Whiskey tourism has real staying power, and that is down to the innovation and resilience of our distilleries and visitor centres," said Eoin Ó Catháin, director of the Irish Whiskey Association.

The top five Irish Whiskey distillery visitor experiences for the period were the Jameson Distillery on Bow Street in Dublin; the Old Bushmills Distillery in  Antrim; the Teeling Whiskey Distillery in Dublin;, the Jameson Midleton Distillery Experience in East Cork, and the Shed Distillery in Co. Leitrim.

The United States was the largest source of visitors to distilleries, followed by Ireland, the UK, Germany, and France. More than one third of visitors do not consume data on site during the visit, according the survey data.

Almost three-quarters (73%) of Irish Whiskey Way distilleries are located in rural areas. "Visitors are spending more and travelling further, bringing that value into rural communities across the island. Since we launched the Irish Whiskey Way last November, it has given visitors a new way to discover our distilleries, and we welcome the renewed emphasis on culinary and experiential tourism in the Government’s Tourism Plan, which closely matches what our members offer," said Mr Ó Catháin.  "With continued support from Government, state agencies and our tourism partners, Irish Whiskey can play an even bigger role in growing tourism in every region of Ireland.”

Irish Examiner travel writer Thom Breathnach said 43% of global travellers plan to avoid overcrowded destinations in 2026, and most travellers now prioritise experience over destination, and that Irish Whiskey distilleries are well-poised to capitalise on changing consumer preferences.

“These strong numbers reflect the spirits industry's enhanced tourism offering throughout Ireland, as the sector meets demand for more immersive tourism experience: from tasting experiences and food pairings to interactive cocktail making classes. But beyond the actual product, the distillery experience is also offering its visitors an all-important window and snapshot into the wider local community, heritage and culture which is all important as we seek more authentic and local experiences.”